Programme grants are intended to provide long-term support for broad, multidisciplinary research where the aim is to answer an interrelated set of questions. They are awarded to outstanding individuals with an established scientific track record and are generally intended to be held for five years. In addition to the usual scientific considerations, strategic issues are also likely to bear on the decision to award a Cancer Research UK programme grant. Further details on the Population and Behavioural Research Committee's priority areas can be found in the Committee's Remit and Research Priorities Statement. In general, the Committee aims for a balance of awarded funding in the region of 25:75 percent ratio of project to programme funding.The Population and Behavioural Sciences Committee considers programme grant applications at each of its three meetings a year.
Subjects covered
The Population and Behavioural Sciences Committee considers programme grant applications in any area of population and behavioural sciences, including:
- genetic, molecular, clinical and public health epidemiology (excluding primary and secondary prevention studies involving medical interventions, e.g. vaccines and chemoprevention)
- educational, behavioural, non-therapeutic supportive and palliative care
- and psychosocial research
The Committee will also consider applications for funding for the following:
- Sample collections which are associated with a specific research proposal and not dependent on the primary outcome of a clinical trial;
- Proposals considering clinical trials methodologies or statistics.
Other points
Applicants submitting applications for clinical trials are advised to liaise with a Clinical Trials Unit (CTU) when preparing their proposal, as it will strengthen their application. Information about National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI)-accredited CTUs and contact details for other Trials Units in the UK can be found on the web.
In addition, a number of NCRI Clinical Studies and Clinical Studies Development Groups (CSG/CSDG) relevant to the Committee's remit (in Psychosocial Oncology, Palliative Care, Primary Care, Complementary Therapies and Teenagers and Young Adults) exist and applicants are advised to contact the Chair of the relevant Group(s), or the Chair of the appropriate site-specific NCRI CSG(s) as early as possible in the development process for their application for guidance.
Further details of the various Groups' activities are available from the NCRI Clinical Studies Group website or the Group's Senior Executive, Dr Eileen Loucaides (email ncricsg@cancer.org.uk or tel: 020 7061 8582).
Applicants are advised that abstracts of all applications to the Population and Behavioural Sciences Committee are sent to the relevant CSGs and CSDGs in advance of a funding decision for comment on how the proposed study or trial would fit within the Group's portfolio of research (if appropriate), and whether it complements, overlaps or conflicts with any current studies in the portfolio. If supported by the Committee, appropriate studies will be added to the NCRN portfolio, and will be expected to access National Cancer Research Network (NCRN) resources where possible and appropriate.
Finally, the Population and Behavioural Sciences Committee will only accept applications for additional arms to, or sub-studies for, existing trials, if the parent trial has been funded or endorsed by a Cancer Research UK Funding Committee or adopted by the NCRN.
Eligibility
Applications will be accepted from scientists, clinicians or health care workers in UK universities, medical schools, hospitals and some research institutions. To assess your eligibility for applying for a programme grant, please use our eligibility guide.
Cancer Research UK welcomes applications proposing joint support for research with other funding bodies. All such proposals must be discussed with the office before submission.
A list of current PBS Programme Grant holders is available to view.
Value
No set value. Funding decisions are made on the basis of scientific merit but will be assessed as part of the initial discussions with Research Funding.
Number offered
Varies. As a guide, three new programme grants were supported in 2005.
Apply
The PBSC is currently not accepting applications for Programme Grant funding.
If you would like to discuss the possibility of submitting a proposal in the future, please contact Dr Fiona Reddington.
If you would like to apply for programme funding for basic, translational or pre-clinical research, please see the Programme Grants offered by the Science Funding Committee.Cancer Research UK also provides funding for therapeutic, diagnostic and some prevention clinical trials through its Clinical Trials Awards and Advisory Committee (CTAAC) and Feasibility Study Committee (FSC). For more information on these funding schemes or the committees, see Clinical Trials Funding.
